PLANS for an £8 million innovation centre in the North-East will be presented to a council next week.

A report outlining updated plans for a £8 million innovation centre in Darlington will go before members of the borough's cabinet next week, which will also be updated on the project's progress.

The proposed Hybrid Business Innovation Centre, at Central Park, would provide office space and laboratories.

Darlington Council hopes the four-storey site will support economic growth and job creation while increasing the competitiveness of the small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).

The report to the cabinet provides an update on the project and asks members to give the go ahead for its detailed design and construction, subject to planning.

Members will also be asked to authorise the release of funds for the building and approve further landscaping work and servicing of remaining development plots within Central Park.

An additional £3.65 million for the project has been secured from the government’s Getting Building fund, one of only three awards in the Tees Valley.

The project has also been awarded £2.8 million from the Tees Valley Combined Authority and £60,000 from Darlington Council.

When the anticipated approval of £4,727,855 from the European Regional Development fund is received, the council will be in a position to deliver the fully funded project.

Alan Marshall, Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet member for economy, said: “It is hoped the exciting new project will accommodate innovative, start up and small businesses looking for the combination of incubator and office space.

"The need for this type of space was identified in the 2015 Tees Valley Innovation Strategy and we’re hoping to attract some knowledge intensive companies, though not exclusively hi-tech sectors such as bio medical and life sciences. The new centre will be complementary and sit well alongside the existing CPI Biologics and Teesside University Horizons buildings.

“It offers a great opportunity for Darlington to nurture and focus on entrepreneurship and business growth and we hope it will be ready to welcome tenants by summer 2022.”

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “Central Park is fast becoming a world-leading place for the bioscience sector to thrive, with CPI, Teesside University and The National Horizons Centre playing a leading role in developing the products and processes of the future.

“This new facility will help us to continue to lead the way when it comes to innovation and create even more jobs of the future for people in Darlington, which is more important than ever before.

“Some of the most significant research and findings in the world are starting out right here in Darlington, and it is because of nationally significant places like this that we can continue to punch above our weight as a region.”

Proposals for the Hybrid Business Innovation Centre can be viewed at: https://www.darlington.gov.uk/your-council/consultations/hybrid-innovation-centre-central-park/